Backpack wheel extension

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a backpack with extendable wheels which extends to the ground, composed of a left and right shaft which contains the left and right shaft extension containing at one end a left and right pivoting wheel, which come in contact to the ground, therefore reducing the weight of the backpack and also contains a left and right shoulder strap and a waist belt, which also contribute to the load supporting features of the backpack wheel extension.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a backpack, particularly a backpackwith wheel extensions. The invention relates to a backpack with aextendable left wheel and a extendable right wheel which can be extendedfrom the backpack all the way to the ground, whereby transferring theload of the backpack to the ground surface therefore reducing the weightof the backpack. The backpack wheel extension also consists of shoulderstraps and a waist belt, which also contribute to the load bearingfunctions of the backpack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Backpacks have commonly been used in activities like hiking, climbingand military activities to carry various items such as clothing,equipments, weapons and various other items. Typical backpacks consistsof a shoulder harness that extends over one or both of the wearer'sshoulders in conjunction with a waist belt that wraps around thewearer's waist. The shoulder harness and the waist belt allow the loadof the backpack and its contents to be distributed over both thewearer's shoulders and waist only, whereby the total weight of thebackpack and its contents are still supported by the body of the wearer.Various backpack suspension systems have been developed to shift andredistribute the load from the shoulders to waists to make it feel likethe weight of the backpack has been reduced, but in reality the weighthas not been reduced but only redistributed and the wearer's body isstill bearing the weight of the load. In addition there has beenexoskeletons that bear the weight of the load placed on it, wherebytransferring the weight to the ground. These exoskeletons are notincorporated into the backpack and are not supported by the backpack,they are independent exoskeletons wherein the load carrying backpack isplaced onto the exoskeleton. These independent exoskeletons are bulkyunits. There is also an exoskeleton that is incorporated into thebackpack and attached to the legs of the wearer. This type ofexoskeleton, inhibit the free movements of the legs of the wearer.

Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a backpack withextendable wheels incorporated into the construction of the backpackwhereby the extendable wheels are carried by the backpack and utilizedwhen needed by the wearer of the backpack while wearing the backpack andnot hindering the normal movements of the wearer while the extendablewheels are extended to come in contact with the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a backpack, particularly a backpackwheel extension, which is a backpack with extendable wheels. Theinvention relates to a backpack with built-in extendable wheels, whichtransfers most of the weight of the backpack to the ground surface. Thewearer of the backpack wheel extension can engage and disengage theextendable wheels when desired while wearing the backpack. The backpackwheel extension contains two extendable wheels located on the end of, aright shaft extension and a left shaft extension, which can be extendedfrom the backpack wheel extension to come in contact with the ground.The right shaft extension and the left shaft extension are locatedwithin the right shaft and left shaft respectively wherein the right andleft shaft are fixed to the frame of the backpack and become a part ofthe frame. When the backpack wheels are extended all the way to theground, the weight of the backpack is supported by the ground andwearer. There are three structures, which help support and transfer theweight of the backpack to the ground surface, which are the shoulderstraps, a waist belt and the extendable wheels. The shoulder straps aidthe wearer by holding the top weight of the backpack closer to thewearer's body and aligning the weight whereby allowing a more efficienttransfer of weight to the ground surface. The waist belt aids inredistributing and aligning the weight over the waist of wearer. Theextendable wheels transfers the majority of the weight of the backpackto the ground and the wheels give the wearer mobility to drag thebackpack around instead of carrying the weight. The wheel extension forthe backpack wheel extension can be utilized in an external or internalbackpack frame as well as a center or sides frame structures. The wheelextension can also be an accessory for an existing backpack.

The backpack wheel extension contains a right shaft, which holds a rightshaft extension, which can be extended all the way to the ground orstored by retracting it all the way up the right shaft. At one end ofthe right shaft extension is a right pivoting wheel, which is able tomove in all directions the wearer is able to move. The backpack wheelextension also contains a left shaft, which holds a left shaftextension, which can be extended all the way to the ground or stored byretracting it all the way up the left shaft. At one end of the leftshaft extension is a left pivoting wheel, which is able to move in alldirections the wearer is able to move.

The shaft extension contains shaft extension holes, which are used toadjust for the different heights of the wearer. Located on the shaft arethe top shaft pin, the bottom front shaft pin and the bottom back shaftpin. The bottom front shaft pin protrudes through the front shaftadjustment holes and the bottom back shaft pin protrudes through theback shaft adjustment holes and also protrudes through the correspondingshaft extension holes to fix the position of the shaft extension. Theshaft pins are spring loaded and the wearer has only to press the bottomfront shaft pin and the bottom back shaft pin at the same time to moveout of one hole to the next hole and then release the shaft pins wherebyadjusting the length of the right and left shaft extensions. The topshaft pin is used to store the shaft extension with the wheel in the upposition, by pushing the shaft extension up through the shaft andengaging the top shaft pin. Once the top shaft pin is engaged, the pinprotrudes through the shaft top hole and also protrudes through theshaft extension holes whereby locking the shaft extension in the upposition. The wearer can release the shaft extension form its storedposition by pressing down on the top shaft pin whereby extending theshaft extension to the ground. When the wearer is standing still andstraight with the wheels in the down position, the wearer will feel asif there is no weight to the backpack. When the wearer is walking orrunning with the backpack wheel extension leaning on the wearer at anangle, the wearer will feel as if the wearer is only pulling a smallfraction of the weight of the backpack. When the wheels are in the upposition, the wearer is carrying all of the weight of the backpack wheelextension. There is another embodiment of the present invention wherethe wearer can carry any item on the wheel extension carrier. The onlydifference being that the wheel extension carrier has load platformwhere a load is placed on it and a load strap, which holds the load inplace.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description.It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and thespecific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustrations only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings,which are given by way of illustration only and are not limitative ofthe present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the backpack wheel extension withthe legs down;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the backpack wheel extension withthe legs up;

FIG. 3 is a front exploded view of the left shaft;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the left top shaft pin;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension storedwithin the left shaft;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension extendedwithin the left shaft;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the left side of the backpack wheelextension with the wheels up;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the left side of the backpack wheelextension with the wheels down;

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the right side of the backpack wheelextension with the wheels down;

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of the front side of the backpack wheelextension with the wheels down;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a wheel extension carrier;

FIG. 13 is a illustrative view of the left side of the wheel extensioncarrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein the depictions are for purposes ofillustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only andnot for the purpose of limiting the same. FIG. 1 is a side perspectiveview of a backpack wheel extension 100 of the present invention. Thebackpack wheel extension 100, has wheels which extends to the groundwhereby transferring the weight of a backpack 12 to the ground. Attachedto a backpack frame 10 are a left shaft 20 and a right shaft 40 andcontained within the shafts are a left shaft extension 22 and a rightshaft extension 42 respectively, which extends downwards to the ground.At one end of the left shaft extension 22 is a left pivoting wheel 30and at one end of the right shaft extension 42 is a right pivoting wheel50. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the backpack wheel extension 100with the left shaft extension 22 and the right shaft extension 42 storedwith the wheels in the up position within the left shaft 20 and theright shaft 40 respectively. FIG. 2 depicts a left shoulder strap 14 anda right shoulder strap 15, which aids in supporting the weight of thebackpack 12 by the shoulders of the wearer. A waist belt 16 goes aroundthe wearer's waist and is held together by a waist strap 18, which aidsin redistributing the weight over the waist of user.

FIG. 3 is a front exploded view of the left shaft 20. The left shaft 20consists of a left top shaft pin 26 located on the top of the left shaft20 and aids in holding the left shaft extension 22 in the storedposition on the backpack wheel extension 100. The left top shaft pin 26protrudes into a left shaft top hole 24. Located on the bottom of leftshaft 20 are a left bottom front shaft pin 27 and a left bottom backshaft pin 28 and these pins aid in the adjustment of the left shaftextension 22. The left bottom front shaft pin 27 protrudes into a leftfront shaft adjustment hole 25 and the left bottom back shaft pin 28protrudes into a left back shaft adjustment hole 21 located on the leftshaft 20. The shaft pins are fixed to the left shaft 20 and are springloaded therefore the force of the spring is always pushing down on theshaft pin into the opening on the left shaft 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the left top shaft pin 26. The left topshaft pin 26 is held by a pin holder 32, which is fixed to the leftshaft 20. The pin holder 32 also holds a spring 34, which pushes the topshaft pin 26 into the left shaft top hole 24.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension 22. At oneend is a left shaft extension holes 23, which are used for adjusting theheight of the left shaft extension 22 and the other end contains theleft pivoting wheel 30. The left shaft extension holes 23 havecorresponding holes on either sides of the left shaft extension 22. FIG.6 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension 22 stored withthe wheels in the up position within the left shaft 20. FIG. 6 depictsthe left top shaft pin 26 protruding through the left shaft top hole 24and also through the left shaft extension holes 23 located on the leftshaft extension 22 whereby holding the left shaft extension 22 in thestored position. The left bottom front shaft pin 27 and the left bottomback shaft pin 28 protrude partial through the left front shaftadjustment hole 25 and the left back shaft adjustment hole 21respectively and rests on the left shaft extension 22, since there areno holes at the bottom of the left shaft extension 22.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the left shaft extension 22extended with the wheels in the down position within the left shaft 20.FIG. 7 depicts the left top shaft pin 26 protruding through the leftshaft top hole 24. At the same time the left bottom front shaft pin 27protrudes through the left front shaft adjustment hole 25 and throughthe left shaft extension holes 23, and the left bottom back shaft pin 28protrudes through the left back shaft adjustment hole 21 and through thecorresponding left shaft extension holes 23 and locks the left shaftextension 22 in position.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the left side of the backpack wheelextension 100 with the wheels up. FIG. 8 depicts the whole weight ofbackpack wheel extension 100 is supported by the wearer. This is like atypical backpack wherein the weight is supported by the left shoulderstrap 14, the right shoulder strap 15 and the waist belt 16. FIG. 9 isan illustrative view of the left side of the backpack wheel extension100 with the left shaft extension 22 down, with the wheels in contactwith the ground. The majority of the weight of the backpack wheelextension 100 is transferred to the ground and only a small portion issupported by the wearer. FIG. 9 depicts the wearer as walking withbackpack wheel extension 100, wherein the backpack wheel extension 100is in an angled position, leaning on the back of wearer, whereby thewearer is pulling the weight of the backpack wheel extension 100 insteadof carrying the whole weight. The left pivoting wheels 30 allows thewearer to move in all direction by pulling the backpack wheel extension100 to move forward and by pushing the backpack wheel extension 100 tomove backward. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the right side of thebackpack wheel extension 100 with the right shaft extension 42 with thewheels in the down position, wherein the right pivoting wheel 50 is incontact with the ground. The right shaft extension 42 is inserted withinthe right shaft 40 and locked in position by a right bottom front shaftpin 47 protruding through a right shaft extension holes 43, and a rightbottom back shaft pin 48 protruding through the corresponding rightshaft extension holes 43. A right top shaft pin 46 located on top of theright shaft 40 protrudes through right shaft 40 and is utilized when theright shaft extension 42 is ready to be pulled up and stored with thewheels in the up position. FIG. 10 depicts the wearer standing still andstraight with the backpack wheel extension 100. When the wearer standsstraight the majority of the weight of the backpack wheel extension 100is transferred to the ground and it will feel as if there is no weight,whereas when the wearer is walking with the backpack wheel extension 100as in FIG. 9, the wearer is pulling the weight at an angle and it willfeel as if the wearer is only pulling a small fraction of the weight andFIG. 8 depicting the wearer carrying all of the weight with the wheelsin the up position.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of the front side of the backpack wheelextension 100. FIG. 11 depicts the left shaft extension 22 with the leftpivoting wheel 30 and the right shaft extension 42 with the rightpivoting wheel 50 in contact with the ground. The left shaft extension22 and the right shaft extension 42 are positioned on the outside andbehind the legs of wearer, therefore not hindering the movements of thewearer when the wearer is walking or running.

FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of the present invention where itemscan be placed on a wheel extension carrier 200. The only difference withthe wheel extension carrier 200 is that it contains a load platform 19and a load strap 13 instead of the backpack 12. FIG. 13 is anillustration of a load 17 being placed on the load platform 19 and heldin place with the load strap 13.

What is claimed is: 1) A backpack wheel extension comprising: a) abackpack frame; b) a shoulder strap; c) a waist belt; d) a backpackwhere the weight is carried; e) a wheel; f) means for extending saidwheel to the ground. 2) A backpack wheel extension of claim 1, whereinsaid extendable means is a shaft extension. 3) A backpack wheelextension of claim 2, wherein said shaft extension has a means foradjusting the height. 4) A backpack wheel extension of claim 3, whereinhaving plurality of said shoulder strap. 5) A backpack wheel extensionof claim 4, wherein having plurality of said shaft extension. 6) Abackpack wheel extension of claim 5, wherein having plurality of saidwheel. 7) A backpack wheel extension of claim 6, wherein said wheels arepivoting, whereby having the ability to move in all directions. 8) Abackpack wheel extension of claim 7, wherein said shaft extension withsaid wheel are positioned outside and behind the legs of wearer, wherebynot interfering with the walking or running. 9) A backpack wheelextension comprising: a) a backpack frame; b) a waist belt; c) a wheel;d) means for extending said wheel to the ground. 10) A backpack wheelextension of claim 9, wherein said backpack frame contains a shoulderstrap. 11) A backpack wheel extension of claim 10, wherein saidextendable means is a shaft extension extending to the ground. 12) Abackpack wheel extension of claim 11, wherein said shaft extension has ameans for adjusting the height. 13) A backpack wheel extension of claim12, wherein having plurality of said shaft extension and said wheel. 14)A backpack wheel extension of claim 13, wherein said wheels arepivoting, whereby having the ability to moving in all directions. 15) Abackpack wheel extension of claim 14, wherein said shaft extension andsaid wheel are positioned outside and behind the legs of wearer, wherebynot hindering the movements of wearer. 16) A backpack wheel extension ofclaim 15, wherein said backpack frame contains a backpack, whereby itemscan be placed into it. 17) A backpack wheel extension of claim 15,wherein said backpack frame contains a load platform, whereby a load canbe placed onto it. 18) A backpack wheel extension of claim 17, whereinsaid backpack frame contains a load strap. 19) A backpack wheelextension comprising: A backpack frame containing a backpack to carrythe load and a waist belt; a left shoulder strap; a right shoulderstrap; a left shaft; a right shaft; wherein said left shaft contains aleft shaft extension with a left pivoting wheel at one end and saidright shaft contains a right shaft extension with a right pivoting atone end; wherein said left and right shaft extension have the means forextending to come in contact with the ground; wherein said left andright shaft extension have the means for adjusting to the differentheights of the wearer; wherein said left and right shaft extension withsaid left and right wheel are positioned outside and behind the legs ofwearer, whereby not hindering the movements of wearer. 20) A backpackwheel extension of claim 19, wherein said backpack frame contains a loadplatform and a load strap.